Wagon running-gear



'(No Model.)

T. GRIMMITT. WAGON RUNNING GEAR.

Patented Sept. 3, 1895. 55 194 Wiinesse s:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS GRIMMITT, or ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS.

WAGON RUNNING-GEAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 545,491, datedSeptember 3, 1895.

Application filed May 7,1894. Serial No. 510,418 (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS GRIMMITT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Rockford, in the county of Winnebago and State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wagon Running-Gear,of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to construct a running-gear for wagons,in which the front bolster has a limited pivotal movement at its center,in order that the ends of theaxle may have a vertical movement withoutdisturbing the horizontal position of the bolster, which will supportthe front end of the wagon-box on the same horizontal level with'therear portion, preventing the twisting'of the wagonbox.

The further object is to hold the tongue supported in a yielding mannerand made vertically adjustable.

The further object is to form a pivotal connection between thefrontbolster and axle in a vertical direction and aroller connectionbetween the bolster and circle.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of my improvedrunning-gear. Fig. 2 is a lengthwise central section. Fig. 3 is atransverse vertical section through the front axle. Fig. 4 shows thevarious parts making up the front end of the reach. Fig. 5 is anisometrieal representation of the roller 19 and its bracket-support.Fig. 6 is an isometrical representation of the king-bolt.

The front axle 1 is fitted to receive wheels 2, and to its upper faceare secured hounds 3, between which is located a tongue 4 and havin g apivotal connection therewith. A circle 5 is supported by the axle andbounds 3, having its periphery bordered by a metallic band 6.

To the front face of the axle are secured vertically-perforated plates7,between which is located the free end of a spring-bar 8, secured tothe tongue, and a pin 9,'extending through the perforation of the platesabove the free end of the spring, forms a connection between thespringand axle and serves to hold the tongue supported in a yielding manner,and can be held supported at different heights by placing the pin in thedifferent holes in the plates '7.

To the upper face of the hounds, over the axle, is secured a sand-bar10, and to its upper face, at its center, is secured a plate 11, beinghigher at its center and provided with a perforation coinciding with avertical hole through the sand-bar and axle.

To the under face of the front bolster, at its center, is secured aplate 12, similar to the plate 11, secured to the axle, but in a reverseposition, and has a vertical hole through its center coinciding with thehole in the plate 11. A king-bolt 13 has an enlarged upper end, beingseated in a recess found in the under face of the front bolster, andthrough which passes a horizontal pin 14, serving to hold the bolt inconnection with the bolster, the opening in the head portion of theking-bolt being of irregular shape, as shown at Fig. 6. This bolt ispassed through the front axle, forming a connection between the bolsterand axle.

To the under face of the front bolster are secured brackets (shown atFig. 5) consisting of a base-plate 15, provided with an elongatedopening 16 at one end and its other end provided with a lengthwise slot17, and from the center portion of the base depend'perforated cars 18,between which is located a roller 19.

A bracket of the above construction is secured to each side of thebolster, so that the rollers 19 will overlie the metallic band 6 of thecircle.

The front section of the reach 20 has a connection with the front axleby the king-bolt vertical opening 25, through which the kingbolt passes,and from its rear and front faces extend trunnions 26, which are heldbetween the semicircular bushings 23 of the plates 21. With this bushing24 in place in the end of the reach it is placed between the-sand-barand front axle, and the king-bolt, passing through the parts, forms aconnection between the front axle and reach. The outer faces of theplates 21 are slightly oval in order that the axle may have a rockingmovement in its connection with the reach.

To the upper face of the front section of the reach is secured a bracket27, having an upright portion 28, supporting rollers 29 and 30, theformer located above the circle and the latter below it and in contactwith the metallic edge strip 6, forming an antifriction connectionbetween the axle and reach.

The rear portion of the running-gear is of the usual construction, therear section 31 of the reach having an adjustable connection with theforward section by the plates 32, secured to each section having sides33 embracing the other section, and a series of holes in each section,through which screws are passed, entering a screw-threaded opening inthe base of the plates.

The forward bolster, having what may be termed a universal. connectionwith the forward axle, permits the axle turning about in a horizontalplane and its ends a vertical rocking movement without changing theposition of the bolster, and as the forward end of the wagon-box issupported by the front bolster it 'will be held in the same plane as itsrear portion.

Should the running-gear be employed to support a hay-rack, for instance,it will be necessary that the forward bolster be locked or held incontact with the axle so far as the vertical rocking movement of theaxle is concerned. This is accomplished by loosening the bracketssupporting the rollers 19, and turning them around so that the rollerswill overlie the metallic edge of the circle and will turn in contacttherewith, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 3.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a wagon running gear, the combination ofa front axle, a bolster having a pivotal connection with the axlethrough the medium of a king bolt, the king bolt having an openingextending transversely through its upper end and terminating in twobranches, and a pin extending through the opening and through thebolster.

2. In a wagon running gear, the combination of a front axle and a reachhaving a connection therewith, the connection consisting of a bushingthrough which the king bolt passes and plates secured to the end of thereach supporting the bushing in a pivotal manner.

3. In a wagon running gear, the combination of a front axle, platessecured to the front face thereof, each provided with a vertical seriesof perforations, a tongue having a pivotal connection with the axle, abar spring secured to the tongue having one end passing between theplates, its other end curved upward having a vertical opening throughwhich a bolt passes holding the evenerto the tongue, and a pin locatedin the perforations over the end of the bar spring.

THOMAS GRIMMITT.

Witnesses:

B. BLINN, A. 0. BEHEL.

